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Washington, November 4 — Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms, the former mayor of Atlanta, emerged victorious in the Georgia gubernatorial election, marking her as the first Black woman to hold the position of state governor in the United States, according to media projections. CNN and NBC News declared the race in her favor. The Republican candidate, billionaire healthcare executive Rick Jackson, lost the election.

Outgoing Republican Governor Brian Kemp was unable to run again due to term limits. Bottoms' win brings the governor's seat back to the Democrats after a prolonged period of Republican control. This outcome is also a blow to President Donald Trump, who had endorsed Jackson and campaigned with him in the Atlanta area during the final weeks of the campaign.

Former President Barack Obama campaigned for Bottoms in Georgia in late October, while Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff secured re-election in the state. These results underscore the significance of Georgia as a crucial swing state, having voted for both Joe Biden in 2020 and Donald Trump in 2024.

Prior to serving as Atlanta's mayor from 2018 to 2022, Bottoms did not seek a second term. She subsequently joined the Biden White House as the director of the Office of Public Engagement and later served as a senior adviser to Biden's 2024 reelection campaign. During her campaign, Bottoms vowed to expand Medicaid, reduce family costs, and safeguard voting rights.

Rick Jackson entered the race in February, presenting himself as an outsider who had grown up in Georgia’s foster care system. He spent over $100 million of his own wealth on the campaign and defeated lieutenant governor Burt Jones in a June primary runoff.